Lumber-gage.



A. B. WELSH.

LUMBER GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1911.

1,034,547. Patented Aug.6,1912.

WITNESSES:

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LUMBER-GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 13, 1911. Serial No. 638,325.

Patented Aug. 8, 1912'.

of which the strip is recessed with a series of recesses, 'which progress in length from one. end of the strip to the other and are spaced apart, each recess being designed and graduated to represent a stock thickness of lumber. The other longitudinal edge of the blades or strip is cut away to form a series of step portions designed and graduated to indicate widths of stock lumber, the thickness measuring edge of the tool being also adapted for use as a straight edge in laying ofl lines on a board.

In its more detail nature the invention also resides in those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be iirst fully described and then bespecifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had I to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 1s a perspective view illustrating the gage as applied for use in measuring the thickness of -a board. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the gage illustrating its manner of use in determining the width of a board. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the tool as a straight edge. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the tool, the

, form of the blank being indicated in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 designates the blade which, in the process of manufacture, consists of a rectangular strip (see dotted lines in Fig; 4) to which is secured a handle 2, and wh1ch is apertured to permit passage of a strap 3, that is adapted to engage the band of the user, whereby the tool may. be flexibly suspended from the hand to permit the user writing down his notes in a note-book. The blade-stock 1, along one longitudinal edge 4,.is provided with a series ofrecesses 5, extending from one end of the blade to the other and each of a predetermined lengthto indicate stock thicknesses. Each recess 5 is separated from the other by a short uncut portion of the blade 4*. In the preferred adaptation of the tool, the smaller recess 5 is at the outer end 8, while the larger recess 5 is nearest the stock.

Opposite the edge 4, the other longitudinal edge 6 is cut away to form a series of steps 7, designed to cooperate with the uncut end 8 and serve as a width gage, to determine the width of stock. The steps 7 being graduated according to the stock widths, such as three inches, four inches, 5 inches, etc. up to twelve or more inches. The uncut end 8 is rounded and pointed as at 9 to form a convenient point whereby the operator may use the tool in moving the boards around.

It will be observed that the depths of the cut away port-ions 5 are uniform so that the inner edges thereof all lie in the same longitudinal line, thus enabling the tool to be used as a straight edge member (see Fig. 3) when it is desired to score lines on a board.

I am aware that prior to my invention, it has been proposed to provide lumber gages in which longitudinal blades are provided, and in which, step cut away portions are produced along both sides or both longitudinal edges of the blade. The tools of this character are only adapted as thickness gages, for the reason that were they made of a length sufficient to serve as width gages as well' as thickness gages, the width of the tool blade would be prohibitive to practical use. By my construction I am able to obtain a minimum width of blade since the stepped portions are on one side only. Furthermore, by constructing the tool as shown and described, the operator grasping the tool in the right hand, as indicated in Flg. 1, can determine instantly the thickness of his. material, and then by giving the tool a downward movement, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, and at the same tune turning the blade through a half turn, 1t immediately comes into position (see Flg. 2) to measure the width of the stock. Thus increasing the rapidity of use as well as the convenience of the tool.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is believed and thought the complete construction, operation and. advantages of the invention will readily apparent to those skilled in the art. I

What I claim is; v

1. A measuring gagecomprising a stockv consisting of an elongated rectangular body of, uniform thickness throughout, having one longitudinal edge uniformly recessed /witha series of recesses of progressively increasing length from one end of the stock toward the other to serve as a thickness gage, said stock having along its other edge a stepped series of cut away portions to serve as a width gage, said stock at its outer end terminating in a hook portion to cooperate with said series of cut away portions, and a handle secured to the inner edge of said stock extending in the same longithe respective edge adjacent towhic they are located, whereby one set of graduations on one face will be upside down withv relation to the other set of graduations -on the same face,allbeing arrangedsubstantially as shown and for the purposes described. a

A 2. A measuring gage comprlsing a stock consisting of an elongated rectangular .body of unifo rm thickness throughoiit, .hav-

ing one longitudinal edge uniformly recessed with a series f recesses of progressively increasing len h from one end of the stock towardthe other to serve as a thickness gage, said stock having along its other edge a stepped series of cut away portions,

to serve as a width gage, saidstock at its outer end terminating'in a hook portion to cooperate with said seriesof cut away-portions, and a handle secured to the inner end of said stock, and extending in the same longitudinal direction as that of said stock, said stock having an aperture adjacent to saidhandle, and a strap passing through said aperture-, for encircling the hand of the user, said stock, said handle, and said strap, being so arranged that the gage may be turned on its longitudinal axis while in the hand of the user without dropping the gage to bring either gaging edge into operative position as required, said stock having two sets of graduations on each side the respecface, one for each gaging edge, tive sets of graduations readingfrom respective gaging graduations on a the edges, the two sets of face of the stock bemg upside down w1th relation toone another, substantially as shown and for the purposes described. y 4 ANDREW BAXTER. WELSH. Witnesses: 3 A. Foorn, v

E. O. Krnosnnnx. v I 

